Townsman. Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban's shrine,
800Within this half-hour, hath received his sight;
A man that ne'er saw in his life before.

Henry VI. Now, God be praised, that to believing souls
Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair!
[Enter the Mayor of Saint Alban's and his]805brethren, bearing SIMPCOX, between two in a
chair, SIMPCOX's Wife following]

Winchester. Here comes the townsmen on procession,
To present your highness with the man.

Henry VI. Great is his comfort in this earthly vale,
810Although by his sight his sin be multiplied.

Duke of Gloucester. Stand by, my masters: bring him near the king;
His highness' pleasure is to talk with him.

Henry VI. Good fellow, tell us here the circumstance,
That we for thee may glorify the Lord.
815What, hast thou been long blind and now restored?

Duke of Gloucester. Then, Saunder, sit there, the lyingest knave in
Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, thou
mightest as well have known all our names as thus to
name the several colours we do wear. Sight may
distinguish of colours, but suddenly to nominate them
875all, it is impossible. My lords, Saint Alban here
hath done a miracle; and would ye not think his
cunning to be great, that could restore this cripple
to his legs again?

Duke of Buckingham. Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold.
A sort of naughty persons, lewdly bent,
Under the countenance and confederacy
915Of Lady Eleanor, the protector's wife,
The ringleader and head of all this rout,
Have practised dangerously against your state,
Dealing with witches and with conjurers:
Whom we have apprehended in the fact;
920Raising up wicked spirits from under ground,
Demanding of King Henry's life and death,
And other of your highness' privy-council;
As more at large your grace shall understand.

Duke of Gloucester. Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal,
How I have loved my king and commonweal:
And, for my wife, I know not how it stands;
940Sorry I am to hear what I have heard:
Noble she is, but if she have forgot
Honour and virtue and conversed with such
As, like to pitch, defile nobility,
I banish her my bed and company
945And give her as a prey to law and shame,
That hath dishonour'd Gloucester's honest name.

Henry VI. Well, for this night we will repose us here:
To-morrow toward London back again,
To look into this business thoroughly
950And call these foul offenders to their answers
And poise the cause in justice' equal scales,
Whose beam stands sure, whose rightful cause prevails.